To Kill a Mockingbird

Jem cries that night, angered by the injustice he’s witnessed. When the children ask Atticus how this could happen, he wearily responds, “I don’t know, but they did it. They’ve done it before and they’ll do it again and when they do it—seems that only children weep” (243).

The next morning, Calpurnia greets Atticus with a bounty of food brought by the Black residents of Maycomb to show their appreciation. Atticus is greatly moved by this gesture, but he leaves for work without eating his breakfast.

Maudie invites the children to her house for cake. She attempts to console them, explaining “there are some men in this world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us. Your father’s one of them” (245). Jem still seems disillusioned by the experience of the trial.

As they leave Miss Maudie’s, Miss Stephanie comes by. She announces that in town, Atticus was just spat upon by Mr. Ewell.

Atticus brushes off the incident, saying he’s glad to take the blame for Bob Ewell’s injured pride if it saves Mayella Ewell an extra beating from her father. Jem, however, continues to feel angry, and he denounces the judicial system as unfair. Atticus explains that the reasoning of the jury was tainted. He says that any White person who takes advantage of a Black person is “trash” (252). He also illuminates what will happen now that the trial is over, explaining that Tom Robinson has been transferred to another prison seventy miles away, where he will await his appeal. Atticus expresses his belief that Tom has a good chance of being pardoned. If he loses, however, Tom Robinson will go to the electric chair because in Alabama, rape is considered a capital offense.

Atticus hints at a hopeful moment in the trial, suggesting that one of the few people who wanted Tom to be acquitted was a Cunningham. Scout is pleased and wants to invite Walter over. Alexandra, however, refuses to entertain the Cunninghams. When Scout expresses her confusion, Jem tries to explain that the Cunningham family is from a different class than the Finch family. He describes the caste system of Maycomb in four tiers: “the ordinary kind like us”; “the kind like the Cunninghams out in the woods”; “the kind like the Ewells down at the dump”; “and the Negroes” (258). Jem explains that each tier is wary of the one directly below it.

Scout remains confused, stating that she believes all people are essentially the same. Jem, however, has arrived at a more mature but convoluted understanding of humanity: “If there’s just one kind of folks, why can’t they get along with each other? If they’re all alike, why do they go out of their way to despise each other? […] I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley stayed shut up in the house all this time…it’s because he wants to stay inside” (259).

Alexandra hosts a missionary circle on an August afternoon. Motivated by her growing friendship with Calpurnia, Scout puts on a dress and carries a coffee pitcher to the ladies’ table. Alexandra invites her to stay, and the women discuss the lifestyle and living environment of an impoverished African tribe they hope to convert to Christianity.

The women express disdain and distaste for the ways of the African tribe. This discussion is followed by patronizing commentary about the women’s Black servants. In their comments, the women characterize their servants’ righteous anger over the trial as un-Christian. Annoyed by the women’s lack of perspective, Maudie tartly cuts them off, and Alexandra looks grateful.

Atticus arrives home early. He tells Calpurnia to go with him to the Robinson house because Tom has been shot seventeen times in an attempt to escape the prison.

Alexandra is stunned and saddened by this news, but Maudie coaxes her back into her role as a lady entertaining her company. Scout offers her assistance, reflecting, “if Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I” (271).